Reynolds' big game lift Virtual Pirates to victory




I will be serving as general manager/manager of the Pirates in a 2020 season simulation along with 29 others using Out Of The Park Baseball. Feel free to check here for daily updates. I realize baseball is a lot less important than what is going on in the world today but perhaps it can provide a diversion for a few moments.

MILWAUKEE – Bryan Reynolds had no problem adjusting to a new spot in the batting order.

Reynolds’ four hits and three RBIs led the Virtual Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Virtual Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday at Virtual Miller Park.

Reynolds’ two-run single in the eighth inning off Josh Hader (1-1) broke a 3-3 tie and put the Virtual Buccos in position to possibly sweep the National League Central-leading Brewers on Sunday in the finale of the three-game series.

The second-place Pirates are now 1 ½ games behind the Brewers in the division standings. The Virtual Corsairs also moved a season-high eight games over .500 at 45-37.

Normally the leadoff hitter, Reynolds dropped to No. 3 in the batting order as Josh Bell was given the day off.

The Brewers got one run back in the bottom of the eighth when Luis Urias drew a bases-loaded walk from Keone Kela with one out. However, Kela struck out Omar Narvaez and got David Freitas to line out to end the inning.

Nick Burdi set the Brewers down in order in the ninth for his seventh save in seven opportunities.

Steven Brault (4-3) was the winner, allowing three runs and five hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and three walks. He threw 105 pitches.

Brault gave up a two-run home run to Christian Yelich in the fifth inning that tied the game at 3-3.

Adam Frazier, moving into the leadoff spot, had three of the Pirates’ 15 hits. Adam Duvall added two hits and two RBIs and Elias Diaz also had two hits.

The roof was closed at Miller Park. Time of game was three hours and 28 minutes and the crowd was 41,860.

Taking advantage of a mid-afternoon start, bench coach Craig Wilson treated the team to a post-game dinner at Mo’s, the popular Milwaukee steakhouse.

"If you eat well, you play well," Wilson said.

Joe Musgrove (9-3, 3.15) will pitch Sunday against Freddy Peralta (3-6, 5.44).


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